Convertible open and closed car.



No. 653,958. Patented July l7, I900.

F. HOFFER.

CONVERTIBLE OPEN AND CLOSED CAR.

Application filed Apr. 10, '1900.) N 0 ll 0 del 3 Sheets-Shoat I,

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A d WM ag/W [NVE/VTOR No.' 653,958. Pal-tented July l7, I900.

k. HOFFER.

CONVERTIBLE OPEN AND' CLUSED CAR.

(Application filed Apr. 10, 1900: (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

l/WEN TOR W1 TNESSES:

No. 653,958. Patented July 17; I900.

F. HOFFER.

CONVERTIBLE OPEN AND CLOSED CAR.

(Applicatioh filed Apr. 10, 1900.

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UNITED STATES.

' PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRIOK IIOFFER, OF COHOES, NEW YORK, Assrcrion or ONE-HALF TO HENRY TROST, or SAME PLACE.

CONVERTIBLE OPEN AND CLOSED o'AR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent a... 653,958, dated July 17, 1900. Application filed April 10, 1900. Serial No. 12,325. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, FREDRIOK HoEEER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gohoes, in the county of Albany and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Open and Closed Cars; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will" enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to convertible open and closed cars designed for summer and winter use; and it has for its object to provide for storing the sash and panel in the space between the ceiling and the roof without in-' creasing the height of the car and without reducing the width of the dome of the car, or, in other words, to provide for storing the sash and the panel in the space between the ceiling and the roof in such manner that the general construction and appearance of streetcars already in use will be retained.

It has further for its object to provide for the easy raising of the sash into the space between the ceiling and the-roof.

It has further for its object to provide for an increased width in the seating capacity of the car and so as to afford a middle aisle of a convenient width in a car having practically the outside dimensions of street-cars in comrnon use.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear the invention consists in the construction and in the combination of parts hereinafter particularly described and then sought to be clearly defined by the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which Figure l is avertical cross-section through apart of the car containing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through a part of a car with portions broken away to show parts of the invention. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through a part of a car, showing the position of the sash and the panel when stored in the space betweenthe ceiling and the roof. Fig. 4:is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the sash and the panel in the space between theceiling and the roof. Fig. 5 isa perspective of a portion of the sliding panel on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a part of the panel, showing a spring-pin in the same. Fig. 7 is a perspective of a portion of a win (low-sash on an enlarged scale and showing features of the invention, and Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of the member which guides the sash in movinginto and out of the space between the ceiling and the roof of the car.

In the drawings the numeral 1' designates the base or floor, 2 the dome portion, 3 the ceiling, at the roof, and 5 the seats, of the car, which parts may be of any approved pattern.

The numeral 6 designates two of the uprights or posts of the car, between which are the sash 7 and panel 8, while 9 designates the usualrafters, which lie between the ceiling and the roof of the car. The posts or uprights 6 will be formed in any suitable manher, with grooves or channels 10 to receive the sash and the panel, said channels being enlarged at their upper ends, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, so as to'permit the sash and the panel to move inwardly when raised.

The panel 8 under my present invention is made in two parts a and b, hinged together by suitable hinges 11, the upper portion Cb having a depending lip or flange 12 at the joint between the hinged sections, so as to cover the joint, and any suitable form of packing, whether of felt or rubber, may be placed at the joint between the hinged sections, so as to exclude cold air in the winter season; but such packing is not illustrated, because it does not involve invention. The lower section b of the panel is slightly curved, as illustrated, so that when the panel is down and the hinged joint closed, asillustrated in Fig. 1, the panel will assumethe shape of the lower part of the posts or uprights and of the channels formed in the'same, as illustrated in Fig. 1, thus permitting the posts to be formed substantially as illustrated, so that more space than usual can be obtained for the seats between the two sides of the car, and thus enable a wider aisle than usual to be formed.

By forming the panels in two sections, as described, they are made flexible to such an extent that when the panels are raised they will open or straighten out from a curved form, as illustrated inFig. 1, to substantially a straight form, as illustrated in Fig. 5, so that they will move smoothly in the straight portion of the channels in the uprights or posts 6 until they pass from the posts into the space between the ceiling and the roof, and when passed into such space each panel will bend or curve, as illustrated in Fig. 3, so as to require less space to be accommodated between the ceiling and roof in the direction of the length of the panel, and consequently allowing the dome portion of the car to be practically of the width found in cars in common use. The panels may be provided at top and bottom with sliding pins 13, working in sockets formed in the panels, which pins will be pressed outward either by a coil-spring 14 or by flat spring 15. These pins, projecting from the edges of the panel, will be pressed in ward by contact with the walls of the channels 10 when the panels are down, and thus serve to cushion the panels against any motion occasioned by wear, and when the panels are raised the pins may bear against the faces of the rafters 9, and thus prevent rattling of the panels when in the space between the ceiling and the roof, and at such time the lower spring-influenced pins may project into sockets made in the rafters or elsewhere, so as to prevent the panels from dropping down, and when the panels are to be lowered the lower pins may be retracted through a thumb-catch opening in the bottom of the panel, so that they may be disengaged from the sockets in the rafters, orthe lower pins may be so formed that by pulling down on the panels the pins will be pressed inward, thus permitting the panels to be lowered.

The sash 7 at its upper end has pivoted to it at opposite ends the tongues 16, adapted to slide in the dovetailed groove 17 of the blocks or members 18, which will be suitably pivoted to the rafters 9. The sash being thus connected by apivot-ed and sliding connection to the rafters, it will be guided inwardly in its upward movement by the members 18 turning upon their pivots or centers, the tongues 16 during such movement sliding in the dovetailed grooves of the pivoted members, and thus the sash is turned inwardly as it is raised, the pivoted and sliding members standing in the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings when the sash is raised. When the sash is lowered, the member 18 turns upon its pivot and the tongue 16 slides in such member, so as to give to the sash the proper movement for being lowered, the pivoted member and sliding tongue standing in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings when the sash is lowered. It will be observed that the grooved member 17 and tongue mem ber 16 constitute telescoping or collapsible members, which parts collapse in one direction of movement and distend in the opposite direction of movement. When the sash is raised, it may be locked in its elevated position by a spring thumb-lock 19, connected to the sash, and the bolt of which will engage with the catch 20, secured to one of the uprights or posts, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings; This bolt maybe made to engage catches located at different points, so as to lock the sash at any height desired. The bolt is not illustrated in detail, and it may be of any approved pattern of bolt, and the sash may be held in its raised position in any other manner desired. The sash is illustrated as provided with a lip 21, extending beyond the edge of the sash, so as to work in a groove formed in one of the posts 6, which will serve to assist in guiding the sash in its up-anddown movements between the two posts, it found necessary or desirable, but the same is not absolutely necessary. The sash is also illustrated as formed at its upper end with an inwardly-extending flange 22, which may be employed, if desired, but the same is not essential. A suitable spring or springs may be employed for raising or assisting in the raising of the sash. In the drawings I have illustrateda rod 23 extending from rafter to rafter and having secured thereto the coil-' springs 24,the free ends of which pass through thimbles or eyes 25, attached to the pivoted blocks or members 18, so that they will exert an upward pull on those members, and thus upon the sash. These springs may have tension enough to lift the sash when the latter is unlocked from engagement with the posts or uprights, or the tension of the springs may be such that by a slight upward pressure upon the sash by the operator the sash will be easily lifted, being assisted by the springs in its up-. ward movement. These springs will also serve to assist in holding the sash in its raised position. I have illustrated a form and application of the spring well adapted for the purpose, but that feature can be modified or changed so as to involve the same principle of operation.-

If desired, studs or projections 26 may be attached to the under side of the car-roof for the upper end of the panel to strike against when raised, so as to limit its upward move ment, and when the panel bears against such projection and is secured against downward movement by the means before described it will be held firmly in position without rattling or movement. The lower end of the panel may have a rubber or other elastic cushion 27 applied thereto, so that when the panel is down said cushion will fit in a recess 28, formed in the bottom or sill of the car, and thus form a close and air-tight joint.

The numeral 29 designates a spring cur tain-roller having a curtain 30, which will be guided in its upward-and-downward move-v ment by its lower rod working in the grooves 31, formed in the posts 6. The panel is guided in its movement by the walls of the IIO channel or groove in the posts or uprights, and the upper section of the panel by reason of its hinged connection with the lower section assumes the proper curve when the upper portion reaches the arch of the roof and is prevented from tilting or dropping downward in contact with the sash by reason of the lower edge of the upper section of the panel resting upon the upper edge of the lower section of the panel, thus imparting to the panel a curved form when it enters the space between the ceiling and the roof. After the entire panel has entered that space it is prevented from dropping down onto the sash by reason of the upper edge of the panel bearing against the studs or projections 26 on the under face of the roof and being held or pressed against the same by the means before described for holding the panel in place, and sockets or depressions may be made in the rafters or parts of the same to receive the spring-pintles at the upper ends of the panels, the pintles being pressed inwardly into the panel and out of engagement with the depressions by pulling the panel clownward.

I have illustrated and described What I consider to be the preferred details of construction and arrangement of the several parts, but changes can be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim is- 1. In a convertible open and closed car, the combination with the posts or uprights, of a two-part panel having its sections hinged together so that when in its lowered position the lower section will stand at an angle to its upper section, substantially as described.

2. In a convertible open and closed car, the

combination with the posts or uprights, of a two-part panel having its sections hinged together so that when in its lowered position the lower section will stand at an angle to the upper section, and a lip or flange connected to one section and covering the joint between the sections, substantially as described.

3. In a convertible open and closed car, the combination with the posts or uprights, of a sliding sash, and means for guiding the sash to an inclined position between the ceiling and the roof, said means comprising a sliding and a pivoted member one of said members being connected to the sash and the other to a suitable support between the ceiling and the roof, substantially as described.

4. In aconvertible open and closed car, the combination with the posts or uprights, of a sliding sash and means for guiding the sash to an inclined position between the ceiling and the roof, said means comprising a mem ber pivoted to a suitable support between the ceiling and roof and another member pivotally connected with the sash, said two members having a sliding connection one with the other, substantially as described.

5. In a convertible open and closed car, the combination with the posts or uprights, of a sliding sash, means for guiding the sash to an inclined position between the ceiling and the roof, and a spring for exerting an upward pull on the sash, substantially as described.

6. In a convertible open and closed car, the combination with the posts or uprights, of a sliding sash, means for guiding the sash in an inclined position between the ceiling and the roof, said means comprising a member piv= oted to a suitable support between the ceiling and the roof and another member pivotally connected with the sash, said two members having a sliding connection one with the other, and a spring for exerting an upward pull on the sash, substantially as described.

7. In a convertible open and closed car, the combination with the posts or uprights, of a sliding sash, and means for guiding the sash to an inclined position between the ceiling and the roof, said means comprising collapsible members pivotally connected with the sash and with a suitable support, substantially as described.

8. In a convertible open and closed car, the combination with the posts or uprights, of the sliding two-part panel having its parts hinged together, an abutment in the space between the ceiling and the roof for the upper end of the panel to bear against when between the ceiling and the roof, and means for locking said panel in said space, substantially as described.

9. In a convertible open and closed car, the combination with the posts or uprights, of a two-part panel having its sections hinged together so that one part may stand at an angle to the other, a sliding sash, means for guiding the sash to an inclined position between the ceiling and the roof, said means comprising two collapsible members one of which is pivotally connected with the sash and the other pivoted to a suitable support, and means for securing the sash and the two-part panel in an inclined position between the ceiling and the roof of the car, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDRIOK HOFFER.

Witnesses:

HENRY TROST, WILLIAM HOFFER. 

